Billfold



Sept. 4, 1945. 1 1 sHERwooD BILLFOLD Filed Feb. 20, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a a, 2.. .V

nwENToR. Es-rie .4. @45e/V000.

Patented Sept. 4, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT Y OFFICE BILLFoLD v Lester L. Sherwood, Los'Angeles, Calif. Application February 20, 1943, Serial 476,555 (ci. 15o-38) 4 Claims.

My invention relates to a folding container composed of flexible material, such as leather or the like, and adapted to be carried in the pocket to serve as 'a convenient container for paper currency, checks, business cards, stamps,

and the like, and the principal1 objects of my invention are to generally improve upon and simplify the construction of the existing forms of bill folds; further, to provide a bill fold ofthe character referred to that is wholly devoid of stitching as the medium for maintaining the parts in assembled relation, and further, to provide a bill fold wherein the main body iscomposed of a single piece of material cut and shaped so that when properly folded, a number ofV compartments and pockets are formed for the reception of paper currency, checks, cards and the like, and Vwhich construction affects a material savingV` of time, labor and consequent cost of manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the blank section of material that forms the main body of the bill fold.

tion of exible material that serves as a pocket connector for the bill fold. Y

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the billfold in open position, and looking against thge inner face thereof. Y

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged Vertical section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical section taken the line 6 6 of Fig. 3. l

Fig. 7 is a perspective View of the bill fold in closed position.

Fig. 8 is a plan View of the blank section of material utilized in producing a modified form of the bill fold.

Fig. 9 is an elevational view looking against the inside of the bill fold when opened.

Fig. 10 is a horizcntal'section taken on thek line -ID 0f Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line I I-I I of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line I2-I2 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of especially shaped sec` Fig. 13 isa vperspectl/'e View of. the modified form of thebill foldwin vclosed position.

Referring particularly totheform of bill'fold illustrated in Figs. 1 to?? inclusive, it will be noted that the main body of vthe bill fold is formed from av single piece of exible material, cut to the form as illustrated in Fig. 1. This body includes a back Voruouter wall member I0 of rectangular shape andhavinga length` approximatelytwice its width, ,and projecting from the upper edgel of lthis back wall section is a back wall lining memberv II that is' adapted to fold over onto' the innerface of the back wall I0, `and the space I2 between the Vwalls .I0 and I I provides a secret pocket for the lreception of currency, checks and the'like. I j l Projecting from the ends of back Wall member iljare substantially square wall members` I3 which when'the bill vfold is folded into proper shape for"use, form the ,front walls of the side pockets'of said bill fold.l `Projecting outwardly iromthe outer edges of the members I3 are short tabsIA, and projecting from the lower edges 4of saidmemb'ers I3 are shorttabs I5.

p Projecting upwardly from' the upper edges of the members I3, beyond the ends of member II, are substantially rectangular members I6 which combine with other Aparts of the structure in forming the side pockets, and projecting ,from the upper edges of said members I6 are tabs I1.

Projecting downwardly from `the lower edge of the central portion of back Wall member I0 is a smallV rectangular tab I 8 which when the bill fold vis'made up for use is secured by cement, or otherwise, to the inner face of member I0, thus, forming a reenforcement in the lower end of the iriedia-l'liney on whichV said back wall member folds. Y.

Depending from the lower edge of back wall member I9 to the sides of tab I8 are substantially rectangular members I9 which combine with -other partsyof the structure forming the side pockets of the bill fold.

lProjecting from the, outer ends'of the wall `members I9 are short'tabs 20. When the parts of the'bodyfoithe bill fold, as just described, are

'folded to proper shape, said walls and parts Vfold 4along the 'dotted lines a so that said bill fold has the appearance as illustrated in Fig, and when the bilateral portions of the bill fold are brought together in full closed position, the walls I0 and II fold on the centrally arranged dotted/line b, Fig. 1, so lthat the bill'foldV `has theappearance as illustrated in Fig. 7. p'

' when Vfoijdedfthe lining wan is Vpositioned against the front face of the back wall I with its lower edge overlying the tab I8 which is cevmented to the front face of said back wall I0,

and the walls I3, I6 and I-9 are now folded over onto the end portions of the back wall I0 and lining wall II so that walls I3 become the outer walls of the pocketY with the walls I6 extending downwardly immediately in front of the end portions of the lining wall II, and with the tabs I'I extending upwardly between the lower portions of lining wall Il and the back wall I0.

The walls I9 extend upwardly between the front walls I3 and the walls I6 with the tabs 20 `on the ends of said walls I9 extending between the end portions of the lining wall II and back wall I0. (See Fig. 4.) The tabs I4 Von the end walls I3 are folded inwardly soas to li-e -behind the inner edges of the walls I9 and the tabs I5 on the lower edges of walls I3 are folded upwardly so as to lie behind the lower portions of said walls I3 and provide finished lower edges therefor. It is to be noted that the pocket between walls I3 and I9 is closed at top and both ends with flap I6 extending a short distance upwardly into said pocket.

In the event that it is desired to carry an identication card, drivers license, or the like with the face exposed, a square ,window' Ymay be cut in wall I3 as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3 and the card to be displayed, is inserted through the bottom of the pocket behind said wall and said card being retained in said pocket, by nap I5 that passes beneath its lower edge.

To connect the sidepocket structures just described, a connector wall 2I is formed from a single piece of` leather, or the like, substantially rectangular in shape, as illustrated in Fig. 2, has its end portions positioned between the walls I6 and I9 as illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 and the central portion of this connector wall extends across the opening between the inner ends of the pocket forming walls as illustrated in Fig. 4.

The space 22 between the walls I6 and lining wall VI I provides a pocket for receiving paper currency, checks and the like and the spaces between the walls I6, I9 and the end portions of connector wall 2i provide pockets -for the reception of cards, stamps and the like.

The tabs I4, l5, I1 and 20 are eiective in maintaining the various walls forming the pockets inv their proper folded positions, and at the same time said tabs materially reenforce and stay the ends, corners and edges of the pocket portions of the bill fold. Y

Figs. 3 and 4 show the bill fold open in order to give ready access to the various pockets thereyassalto the upper edge of thecentral portion of wall 3l is a short horizontally disposed slit 33.

The Various walls and tabs of this construction are foldable on the dotted lines :15, and the walls 25, 3i) and 3| are foldable on a medial line e when the bilateral parts of the structure are folded into closed position so as to be carried in the pocket. (See Fig. 13.)

When the blank section of material constructed as described is folded to form the bill fold, wall 3U is folded downwardly so as t0 occupy a position in front of wall 25, with tab 26 folded over into the front face of the end portion in, and Fig. 7 shows the bilateral portions of i the bill fold folded together so as to enable the bill fold to be conveniently carried in the pocket.

In the modified construction of Figs. 8 to 13 inclusive, the blank member .that forms the bill iold is cut from a single piece of flexible mate- Vrial such as leather, and comprises a. rectangular back wall 25 from the right hand of which i projects a tab `26. Projecting from the left hand edge of member 26 projects a substantially triangular wall 21 and projecting from the upper edge of the latter, is awall member 28 with a flap or tab 29 projecting from its upper edge.

Projecting from the upper edge of back wall 25 is asubstantially rectangular wall 30 andprojecting from the lower edge of said wall 25 is a similar wall 3I. Projecting `from the left hand endiof wall 3l is a. tab 32 and formed between the lower edge of the central portion of wallv 25 and of said wall 36. Wall 3I is now folded upwardly ontothe front face of wall 30 with the right hand end of said wall overlying tab 26 and with the tab 32 onthe left hand end of wall 3I projecting behind the left hand end of wall 30.

YTriangular wall 21 is folded inwardly so as to overlie the upper left hand end portion of wall. 3l as seen in Figs.` 9 and 13 with wall 23 extending downwardly between the left hand portions of walls 30 and 3l and with' tab 29 extending upwardly between the lower portions of Wall 36 and wall 25. (See Fig. 11.)V f

A narrow portion of wall 3I between the slit 33 and the upper edge of said wall is crimped outwardly as designated by @Il in order that said wall' will fold properly without bulging when. the bilateral portions of the bill fold are closed as illustrated in'Fig. 13. Y

When thisform of bill fold is opened to give access to the pockets therein, the parts thereof voccupy the positions as illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 with the pocket between theV walls 25 and 35 open along the top and the pocket between th wall 30 and 3I open at the top and at the right hand end. To completely close the bill fold so that the same may be conveniently carried in the pocket, the right hand portion thereof is swung' forwardly and downwardly with respect to Vthe left hand portion in order that the upper right hand corner of the body may be inserted beneath the triangular wall 27, 'and thus the bilateral parts of the structure'are securely mounted in closed position.

Among the particularly desirable features of my invention are the one piece structure of the bodies forming the bill fold, the entire absence of stitching, stapling and like fastening means and the integral tabs and extensions which interlock the various walls and partitions, and at the same time, materially reenforce and stay the ends and corners ofthe bill fold.

The stitchless feature of the bill fold is particularly advantageous inasmuch as it aords a material saving of time, labor and consequent expense in production costs. l

Thus, it will be seen that I have provided a bill fold that is simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture, and very'eiectve in performing the .functions for which it is intended.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved bill fold may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A `bill fold formed in a single piece from ilexible material and comprising a back wall, a back wall lining integral with the upper edge of said back wall, pocket forming walls integral with the ends of said back wall, pocket partition walls formed integral with the upper edges of said pocket forming walls, pocket partition walls formed integral with the lower edge of said back wall and tabsformed integral with the ends of the pocket forming walls that project from the ends of the back wall, which tabs are folded inwardly behind the inner ends of the pocket partition walls which are formed integral with the lower edge of said back Wall.

2. A bill fold as set forth in claim 1 and with tabs formed integral with the upper edges of the pocket partition walls which are integral with the upper edge of said back wall, which tabs are folded into position between the end portions of the lower edge of said back wall lining and said back Wall.

3. A bill fold as set forth in claim 1 and with tabs formed on the outer ends of said pocket forming walls which tabs are folded into position behind the inner ends of the pocket partition walls which are integral with the lower edge of said back wall.

4. A bill fold as set forth in claim 1 with tabs formed on the lower edges of said pocket forming walls which tabs are folded into position between the lower portion of said pocket forming walls and the lower portions of the pocket forming walls which are integral with the lower edge of said back wall and tabs formed on the upper edges of said pocket partition forming walls which last mentioned tabs are folded into position between the back wall and the lower edge of the back wall lining.

LESTER L. SHERWOOD. 

